The Proust Questionnaire, with Don Gutteridge

Don Gutteridge was born in Sarnia. He taught high school English for seven years and was a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario where he is now Professor Emeritus. The author of eleven novels, Don is also an accomplished poet and has published thirteen books of poetry. He currently lives in London, Ontario. His book Solemn Vows (Simon & Schuster) catches up with Lieutenant Marc Edwards at the scene of a political assassination in Toronto, 1836. In his answers to the Proust Questionnaire, Don tells us his greatest accomplishment, his idea of misery, his favourite authors and more.

Win one of five copies of Solemn Vows, the newest Marc Edwards mystery! To enter, send an email with the subject heading ?Solemn? to [email protected] and tell us your favourite mystery writer. Contest closes March 4th.

The Proust Questionnaire was not invented by Marcel Proust, but it was a much loved game by the French author and many of his contemporaries. The idea behind the questionnaire is that the answers are supposed to reveal the respondent's "true" nature.

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What is your dream of happiness?
What I?ve done, writing 35 books.

What is your idea of misery?
Writer?s block.

Where would you like to live?
My hometown, Point Edward.

What qualities do you admire most in a man?
Courage, loyalty.

What qualities do you admire most in a woman?
A caring attitude towards others.

What faults in others are you most tolerant of?
Impatience.

What do you value most about your friends?
Loyalty.

What characteristic do you dislike most in others?
Selfishness.

What characteristic do you dislike most in yourself?
Impatience.

What is your favourite virtue?
Good-heartedness.

What is your favourite occupation?
A writer.

What would you like to be?
What I am, a writer.

What is your favourite colour?
Blue.

What is your favourite flower?
Gladiola.

What is your favourite bird?
Cardinal.

What historical figure do you admire the most?
Churchill.

What character in history do you most dislike?
Hitler.

Who are your favourite prose authors?
Dickens, Greene, Wright, Munro.

Who are your favourite poets?
Thomas, Keats, Dickinson.

What is your favourite food?
Pasta.

What is your favourite drink?
Milk.

What are your favourite names?
William, John, James.

What is it you most dislike?
Rude people.

What natural talent would you most like to possess?
To be able to play golf well.

How do you want to die?
Surrounded by my family.

What is your current state of mind?
Contented.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
Writing a book I can be proud of.